SHY TRICK

Prerequisite for this trick is a paw target touch and stay.

For many dogs they are going to learn this trick originally easiest from a down position or a sit, play a little with each to see which your dog seems more naturally paw agile with (for example Nick learned this much easier from a down because he has big long legs and is naturally very flexible, Emily has shorter legs and had more flexibility if she was sitting so she could use more shoulder.

• First start by teaching your dog to touch a target with their paw.

• Work to where they will target a small piece of paper, with their paw touch.

• Work on moving the target around with the dog in either a sit or down and having them reach for the paper target without leaving that position.

• When they can reach the target at a position above their nose while maintaining a sit or down then use either a post it note for your target or use a small piece of tape to put the target on their muzzle.

• Each dog has a magic whisker tickle spot that will have them swat at the target.

• Click when their paw makes contact with the target.

• When you reward do so with their head close to where it needs to be when they hold the position, so don’t reward in a position that raises their heads back up, they will need to maintain a nose down position to hold the shy.

• For some dogs you can reverse target if they struggle with the paw on the nose, this means you use a nose target and get them to target their nose under their paw.